Skywatch Friday, making our beaches safe,

http://skyley.blogspot.com/
This is our beautiful summer sky, and hordes of families head to the beach. But some are working, many of them are volunteers, to make sure the beach is safe for us.



Hurray, Summer is here, the lifeguards are officially at the beach to rescue you if you get into trouble.

http://www.slsnz.org.nz/NationalJandalDay/Front/Front.aspx?ID=9939

Jandal is a hybrid word in New Zealand for Japanese Sandals, and is very popular and well loved that the Jandal is a national Icon.

Three summers ago, they sold key chains which I still use for my car. It's bright red and yellow means it is easy to locate, and at the right size too.

My students were pumping up these inflatables and emphasized to me that it is not meant to be a flotation devise. It is a toy.

My colleagues J and A both have children who are volunteer life guards.

Event organiser Monique Caddy said about 600 businesses and 180 schools nationwide are officially supporting National Jandal Day.

Last Friday, my school joined 180 schools, children and staff were encouraged to wear jandals and donate a gold coin to support the lifeguards.

"Jandals are iconic of the Kiwi summer and preferred by the lifeguards, so it seemed a natural fit."

The annual appeal aims to raise $450,000 to go towards rescue equipment and to help educate the community about water safety.

New Zealand has a drowning rate per capita which is twice that of Australia. Every year, about 1420 people are saved by lifeguards from 73 clubs around the country. The lifeguards patrol 15,000km of coastline for nearly 200,000 hours every summer.

This year's appeal comes 100 years after the first lifesaving clubs were formed at Lyall Bay in Wellington and New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.